The Impact of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection on Patients’ Prevention Behaviors

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 1351-1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances M. Weaver ◽  
William E. Trick ◽  
Charlesnika T. Evans ◽  
Michael Y. Lin ◽  
William Adams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Chicago Area ◽  
Recurrent Clostridium Difficile Infection ◽  
Public Areas ◽  
Eating Out ◽  
Record Review ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Recent Illness

OBJECTIVETo determine the impact of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI) on patient behaviors following illness.METHODSUsing a computer algorithm, we searched the electronic medical records of 7 Chicago-area hospitals to identify patients with RCDI (2 episodes of CDI within 15 to 56 days of each other). RCDI was validated by medical record review. Patients were asked to complete a telephone survey. The survey included questions regarding general health, social isolation, symptom severity, emotional distress, and prevention behaviors.RESULTSIn total, 119 patients completed the survey (32%). On average, respondents were 57.4 years old (standard deviation, 16.8); 57% were white, and ~50% reported hospitalization for CDI. At the time of their most recent illness, patients rated their diarrhea as high severity (58.5%) and their exhaustion as extreme (30.7%). Respondents indicated that they were very worried about getting sick again (41.5%) and about infecting others (31%). Almost 50% said that they have washed their hands more frequently (47%) and have increased their use of soap and water (45%) since their illness. Some of these patients (22%–32%) reported eating out less, avoiding certain medications and public areas, and increasing probiotic use. Most behavioral changes were unrelated to disease severity.CONCLUSIONHaving had RCDI appears to increase prevention-related behaviors in some patients. While some behaviors are appropriate (eg, handwashing), others are not supported by evidence of decreased risk and may negatively impact patient quality of life. Providers should discuss appropriate prevention behaviors with their patients and should clarify that other behaviors (eg, eating out less) will not affect their risk of future illness.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2017;38:1351–1357

Eating Out in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries: Changes in Food and in Social Identities

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christel Lane
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Social Identities ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
General Terms ◽  
Quality Of Food ◽  
Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries ◽  
Eating Out ◽  
Gender And Nation ◽  
The Impact

This chapter examines the impact of rapid urbanization and industrialization on food and eating out. It draws attention to the growing standardization of food and, with greater class differentiation, to the growing diversity in eating-out venues. Class, gender, and nation are again used as lenses to understand the different eating-out habits and their symbolic significance. Towards the end of the twentieth century, pubs moved more fully towards embracing dining. However, the quality of food, in general terms, began to improve significantly only towards the end of the century, and hospitality venues also moved towards selling food from diverse national origins.

scholarly journals Impact of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection: hospitalization and patient quality of life

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 2647-2656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark H. Wilcox ◽  
Harblas Ahir ◽  
John E. Coia ◽  
Andrew Dodgson ◽  
Susan Hopkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Clostridium Difficile Infection ◽  
Recurrent Clostridium Difficile Infection

scholarly journals The Impact of the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis on Communication and Quality of Life: Insights From a Community of Stroke and Brain Trauma Survivors

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Mackenzie E. Fama ◽  
Brooke Hatfield ◽  
Suzanne Coyle ◽  
Melissa S. Richman ◽  
Amy C. Georgeadis
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Receptive Language ◽  
Brain Trauma ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Trauma Survivors ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has led to stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines that have the potential to greatly impact individuals' behavior and social engagement. Adults recovering from stroke or other brain trauma, who often have communication difficulties and other long-term challenges, are a population already at risk of isolation and lower quality of life. We investigated the impact of public health guidelines and related behavioral changes on self-perceptions of communication abilities and psychosocial factors in this population. Method The Stroke Comeback Center, a community-based center for stroke and other brain trauma survivors with communication impairments, disseminated an online survey to current members to investigate changes in communication, social engagement, and quality of life. Results Participants ( N = 50) reported a number of changes in their day-to-day activities that reflect the current social distancing guidelines, such as reduced outings into the community and fewer in-person conversations with those living outside one's home. Overall, feelings of connectedness to others and overall quality of life were reported to be decreased when compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas receptive language abilities and technology skills were reported to have improved. Perhaps most interestingly, certain behavioral changes (including healthy movement activities and participation in virtual programs) had specific relationships with perceived communication abilities and social engagement. Conclusions Changes in daily life resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have had a tangible impact on self-perceived psychosocial elements (e.g., quality of life) and communication abilities among stroke and other brain trauma survivors. Clinicians and researchers may consider these perceived changes when engaging with this population as the effects of the pandemic continue and in the period of community re-entry that may follow. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14830881

scholarly journals Impact of Clostridium difficile Infection on Patients’ Quality of Life: a French Hospital Prospective Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S393-S394
Author(s):  
Frederic Barbut ◽  
Tatiana Galperine ◽  
Philippe Vanhems ◽  
Alban Le Monnier ◽  
Viviane Jeanbat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Clostridium Difficile Infection ◽  
Physical Domain ◽  
Physical Complaints ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Few data are available on the impact of episodes of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) on quality of life. The Cdiff32, a new specific health-related quality of life questionnaire recently validated, allows such a measurement (Garey et al. J Clin Gastroenterol 2016 Sep;50(8):631–7). Methods An observational prospective study was performed in 7 French acute-care facilities in 2016. All consecutive patients presenting with a bacteriologically-confirmed CDI during a hospital stay, regardless of reason for hospitalization, were enrolled. Two instruments were presented to patients at 7(±2) days after CDI diagnosis: the Cdiff32 and a generic questionnaire the EQ-5D-3L. The Cdiff32 comprises 32 self-administered questions about the impact of CDI in 3 broad domains (physical, mental and social). The physical domain differentiates general (6 questions) and specific physical complaints (8 questions). The mental domain comprises 14 questions about current and future anxiety. Four questions cover the impact on social relationships. Each item is scored from 0 (worst score) to 100 (best score) and they are aggregated by domain and globally. Clinical variables were collected to characterize the infection severity (ZAR score) and comorbidities. A regression analysis of the Cdiff32 scores with the EQ-5D-3L was performed. Results 80 patients were enrolled and 3 were excluded because of missing data. The median age was 71 years and 45% were males. The global Cdiff32 score was 50.4 (SD: 17.1) with a large variability among patients (min 18.3, max 90.2). The highest impact of CDI was observed on the general physical complaints (41.6), as well as the level of current anxiety (41.6). The score relating to the social relationships was the highest (63.7). The severity of CDI (as defined by the Zar score) and the global Cdiff32 score were correlated essentially through the physical sub-score (P = 0.0154). Patients with recurrences had a lower mental score compared with patients with an initial episode (P = 0.0582). The regression analysis of global Cdiff32 score and EQ-5D-3L utility score showed a positive relationship (R2=0.317). Conclusion The Cdiff32 allowed to estimate the important impact on quality of life of CDI especially on the physical domain. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Adults Who Stutter ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

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